Ferris Fain, baseball player, 1947-1955

Ferris Fain

Born: 3/29/1921 in San Antonio, TX, USA

Died: 10/18/2001 in Georgetown, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1947-04-15 | Final Game: 1955-09-24

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: Ferris Roy Fain

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Biography

Ferris Fain was a prominent American baseball player known for his exceptional hitting and versatility on the field during his career from 1947 to 1955. Born in 1921, Fain established himself as a key figure in Major League Baseball during the post-World War II era, a time marked by a resurgence in the popularity of the sport and the emergence of new talent. He played a total of 1,151 games, amassing 1,139 hits and achieving a noteworthy batting average of .290. Fain's offensive contributions also included 48 home runs and 570 runs batted in, showcasing his ability to drive in runs and support his team's success. Fain was selected as an All-Star five times, reflecting his status as one of the top players of his era. His skill set was characterized by a keen eye at the plate and a solid approach to hitting, which allowed him to maintain a strong on-base presence throughout his career. Additionally, he demonstrated speed on the bases, evidenced by his 46 stolen bases. Ferris Fain's career left a lasting impact on the game, as he navigated the transition period of baseball, contributing to the rich tapestry of the sport during the mid-20th century.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
16.0 16.0 0 1.0 0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0.062 0.062 0.062 0.124

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
1947 16.0 16.0 0 1.0 0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0.062 0.062 0.062 0.124

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
1151 3930 595 1139 213 30 48 570 46 904 261 0.290 0.424 0.396 0.820 15081.6

Career AVG .290 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — +10.9% above league average.

Career OBP .424 vs. league average .337 across their career seasons — +25.9% above league average.

Career SLG .396 vs. league average .386 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.820 vs. league average 0.723 across their career seasons — +13.4% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1947 PHA AL 136 461 70 134 28 6 7 71 4 95 34 0.291 .262 (+11%) .336 (+23%) .376 (+12%) .712 (+17%) 1984.1
1948 PHA AL 145 520 81 146 27 6 7 88 10 113 37 0.281 .263 (+7%) .340 (+21%) .379 (+4%) .719 (+12%) 1814.2
1949 PHA AL 150 525 81 138 21 5 3 78 8 136 51 0.263 .262 (avg) .343 (+21%) .384 (-12%) .727 (+4%) 1082.2
1950 PHA AL 151 522 83 147 25 4 10 83 8 133 26 0.282 .265 (+6%) .346 (+24%) .401 (avg) .747 (+11%) 1942.6
1951 PHA AL 117 425 63 146 30 3 6 57 0 80 20 0.344 .260 (+32%) .336 (+34%) .385 (+22%) .721 (+28%) 2686.3
1952 PHA AL 145 538 82 176 43 3 2 59 3 105 26 0.327 .252 (+29%) .326 (+34%) .369 (+16%) .696 (+25%) 3155.2
1953 CHW AL 128 446 73 114 18 2 6 52 3 108 28 0.256 .264 (-3%) .335 (+21%) .397 (-13%) .733 (+2%) 789.6
1954 CHW AL 65 235 30 71 10 1 5 51 5 40 14 0.302 .261 (+16%) .333 (+20%) .390 (+7%) .723 (+13%) 664.3
1955 DET AL 58 140 23 37 8 0 2 23 2 52 12 0.264 .258 (+2%) .332 (+38%) .393 (-8%) .726 (+13%) 658.3
1955 CLE AL 56 118 9 30 3 0 0 8 3 42 13 0.254 .258 (-2%) .332 (+36%) .393 (-29%) .726 (+1%) 658.3

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 1116 140 9530 927 138 1124
OF 11 0 11 2 3 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1947 PHA 1B 132 0 1141 101 19 118
1948 PHA 1B 145 0 1284 120 16 148
1949 PHA 1B 150 0 1275 122 22 194
1950 PHA 1B 151 0 1286 124 19 192
1951 PHA 1B 108 0 931 113 11 124
1951 PHA OF 11 0 11 2 3 1
1952 PHA 1B 144 0 1245 150 22 124
1953 CHA 1B 127 0 1108 106 13 98
1954 CHA 1B 64 64 565 31 8 54
1955 DET 1B 44 42 370 29 5 42
1955 CLE 1B 51 34 325 31 3 30

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 1114
Left Field 1
Right Field 10

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1952 TSN All-Star 1B
1951 TSN All-Star 1B
1951 TSN Player of the Year
1948 Baseball Magazine All-Star 1B

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1952 Most Valuable Player AL 6th 66.0 336 0
1951 Most Valuable Player AL 6th 103.0 336 1
1948 Most Valuable Player AL 24th 5.0 336 0
1947 Most Valuable Player AL 19th 9.0 336 0
1947 Rookie of the Year ML 4th 43.0 165 0